Sikorsky S-58J accident near Near Kingston, Idaho, January 22, 1982
On January 22, 1982 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Sikorsky S-58J (helicopter), registered N97AR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Near Kingston, Idaho. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 22, 1982 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Near Kingston, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S-58J · all S-58Js on the register
- Registration
- N97AR · no longer on the register · serial 58-531
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS ENGAGED IN LOGGING OPERATIONS. WHILE IN A HOVER TO PICK UP A SECOND LOAD OF LOGS, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. AN AUTOROTATION WAS MADE INTO A CREEK BED. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THAT SNOW AND WATER FROM THE CABIN INTERIOR HAD PENETRATED THE CABIN FLOORING TO THE TOP OF THE FUEL CELL AND AROUND THE FUEL CELL PLATE. ON REMOVAL OF THE COVER PLATE, A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF SLUSH WAS FOUND CLOGGING THE FUEL FILTER.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,597 hours in all; 467 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 2,576 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,176 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,000 lb
- Seats: 16
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright 1820 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Near Kingston ID at 10:35 am
- Destination: Near Kingston ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.